‘Week Without Driving’ teaches the challenges for non-drivers

From Sept. 29 through Oct. 4 marks the “Week Without Driving” experience. If you can drive or afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit, and asking for rides. But for nearly a third of people living in the United States, people with disabilities, young people, seniors, and people who can’t afford cars or gas, this is their everyday life.

The campaign is asking people and especially community leaders and elected officials, to participate in the Week Without Driving experience so that those who have the option to drive can learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges that nondrivers face and work with nondrivers to create more accessible communities for all.

The week takes place from September 29 – October 4 nationally (as well as in Phoenix), and will help the City, County, and State leaders come to a better understanding about how our streets and transit systems work for those of us who rely on them daily, so that we can improve them.

Ed Hermes, Chairman of the Vision Zero Street Safety Committee, joined “Arizona Horizon” to explain more about the challenge itself.

“We have 40,000 families here in Phoenix that do not have access to a vehicle. There’s unique challenges as you can imagine, in this city and we need to make it safer or make it easier for everyone to get around,” said Hermes who doesn’t drive a car himself.

Hermes listed out a variety of different challenges that a commuter who doesn’t have access to a personal car can experience on a daily basis.

“Safety is a big one. We have the number one amount of deadly car crashes of any major city in the United States. We have about 300 a year. Access to quality and reliable public transport is another one,” said Hermes.

Ultimately, Hermes wants individuals who partake in the challenge to record their findings after their week without driving and see what can be improved for those who don’t have access to a car.

“We want people to get out next week during a week without driving. Document your own challenges that you have so if you’re trying to get down to work it. How was it? How was it like? What have you seen that can make it easier to get where you need to go,” said Hermes.